By Elizma - 27 March 2008
Surely these past days we didn't have as much adventures and stories to tell than last week. But these days were granted to process the stuff I've been challenged with recently; the biggest of which is definitely the life of Peter, and how it's speaking to me.
On Easter Friday we read the story of the last supper as told in Luke 22, and being just after a stressful couple of days with the police, the verse that ripped my heart were verse 33: "Peter said, 'Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.'" In that moment I realized that before, like Peter, I were willing to suffer for Christ, and pay any price in order that He may be glorified. And I knew how desperately I wanted to get away from the police, and the emotional stres of looking over your shoulder the whole time - I just wanted to get out of the situation as quick and easy as possible, even if it meant getting out of China (out of His will). And I knew that I wouldn't even take the smallest step of suffering for Christ!! If I were being Peter, I would have been quick to say the same to Jesus, but the next day, I would have been the one denying Him three times.
So... I were really challenged! Luckily, our Father's grace is incomprehendibly huge! As He gave Peter an opportunity to confess his love for each time he denied Him, His forgiving grace are there for you and me as well! And it will be every time that we slip, fail Him or hide our faces in shame. Through every bad He carries us, catches us - showing the way with His ultimate command to Peter, "Follow me". A day of denial, a moment of shame, a grace EVERLASTING ... !!!